Land South, Of 83 Newhill Road Battison Lane, Rotherham, S63 6LN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• whether the proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
• the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the appeal site and the surrounding area
• potential risks to the proposal arising from past mining activity
• the effect of the proposal on highway and pedestrian safety
• whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances necessary to justify the development

What decided it

The substantial harm from inappropriate development in the Green Belt, together with other identified harms, was not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits put forward, so very special circumstances did not exist.

The substantial weight attached to harm from inappropriateness, plus moderate harm to openness and other harm (character/appearance and mining risk), was not clearly outweighed by the limited personal and community benefits, so the balance tipped against the proposal.